Saturday, January 2, 2016

New for January 2016~ my hair-care routine and favorite products

Hi friends,

I thought I would start the new month (and the new year) with an updated post on my hair-care routine and favorite products. Thank you so much for following my blog! I hope you have a lovey 2016 full of beautiful days and wonderful memories.

1) Trimming

I keep my hair trimmed evenly across the bottom, since personally I like the idea of an even "hem-line" as opposed to fairy-tale or tapered ends. I think that even hair looks longer and healthier. My mother trims my hair for me when it starts to look uneven across the bottom, usually once every few months or so. She is even more careful than I would be to take off just a little bit at a time. My hair reached ankle-length several years ago. Although it could grow much longer I prefer to keep it trimmed at ankle-length. My main hair-growing goal is to have hair that looks thick all the way down with as little taper as possible.

2) Oils

Last year I discovered the joy of coconut oil for hair. I absolutely love it! A few hours before washing my hair, I take it down from my hairstyle for that day and apply coconut oil to the length. Since I live in a warm climate year-round, my coconut oil is always in liquid form~ so nice. Sometimes instead of coconut oil on my hair I use monoi oil, an infused perfume oil from Tahiti made by soaking Tahitian gardenia petals in coconut oil. When I get in the shower I rinse the oil out of my hair in cool water, then condition-wash-condition as usual.

During the week I put different types of oils and oil mist sprays on the length of my hair, concentrating mostly on the ends. This keeps my hair looking healthy and shiny and helps it not to be dry. These are my favorites:

3) Washing my hair

I use the condition-wash-condition method and wash my hair two times a week, except for my bangs which I wash and blow-dry every morning. My favorite brand and the only one I ever use is Herbal Essences. I prefer the red bottles "Long-Term Relationship" or the blue bottles "Moroccan My Shine." Although the golden "Honey, I'm Strong" is very nice, too, as well as the pink "Touchably Smooth."

After rinsing the coconut oil out of my hair, I condition the length to protect it and shampoo only the top. I use a fist-full of conditioner and a small not-quite-palm-size amount of shampoo. I rinse all that out with cool water, then condition the bottom again. I leave that conditioner on for several minutes before rinsing my hair one last time in cool water. I never wash my hair in hot water.

4) Apple cider vinegar rinse

Every 2 or 3 months, my hair needs a clarifying rinse from all the oils and conditioner I use. After washing and conditioning my hair, I use an apple cider vinegar rinse. To make this, I just add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to a big glass of water. After washing out the conditioner the second time, I pour this vinegar rinse over my whole head and the length of my hair, then quickly rinse my hair with cool water. This apple cider vinegar rinse makes my hair very soft and shiny and oh-so-nice.

5) Combing my hair

I only ever use a large-tooth comb on my hair. I do use a round boar-hair brush to style my bangs, and a rat-tail comb to make parts when I am braiding or to comb out my braid tassel.

I try to be very careful when combing out my wet hair, to start at the bottom and work my way up to the top. Sometimes if I am having trouble with tangles or it is taking me a long time, I use my favorite "No More Tangles" detangling spray.

6) Drying my hair

Of course as anyone with long hair or thick hair knows, it can take a while for your hair to air-dry! I blow-dry my bangs every morning, but never use the blow-dryer on my hair. I wash my hair at night and let it air-dry while I am asleep. If I happen to wash my hair in the morning, I will usually put it in a bun while it is still wet to protect it throughout the day, then sleep with it loose at night so it can air-dry.

7) Healthy hair from the inside-out

Probably the best hair-secret I could share is to eat a spoonful of peanut butter every day. I have done this faithfully for years, and can honestly say that peanut butter makes my hair healthy and strong, and also makes it grow fast. My hair and I love peanut butter!

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Thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post! If you have any questions or comments, just leave them below. Happy hair-growing, my friends :-) <3

The coconut nut oil is my favorite to use also, plus the smell is amazing...I agree with you I prefer a straight hem line than a tapered look...what makes it difficult for me is to keep the lower ends of my hair thick...

I do believe using a wide tooth comb is the very best way to comb super long hair. Although, I have an terrible time finding one. Many I find have rough seams which snag and break hair strands, rather than smooth edges that glide. Do you remember where you bought yours? Also, have you used a detangling brush like the Tangle Teezer or the Wet Brush? For now, I use my fingers to comb through, then use the Wet Brush. However, ideally, I would use a good wide tooth comb.

Actually I got mine at a small family-run store here on my island. A time or two I have tried to change to another comb, but I always quickly switch back to my favorite pink comb that is years old. It's just a basic wide-tooth comb with a long handle that I've worn down after years of use and I love it.

Wow I never would have guessed about peanut butter lol I'll give it a try ;) I love those organix hair products as well. That brand has never failed me. I have very kinky coily hair that is almost at waist length thanks to those products and a supplement called MSM. Have you heard of it? Thank you for posting by the way :)

Hi Andrea! Great to read this updated post about your hair care regime. My hair is at hip length now and could use a little extra care. Nice to see you're using the same Monoi Oil as I do, I have the Vanilla scented one. Such a lovely smell. Love from Patti

Hey! Wow, congratulations on reaching hip-length, that's wonderful! I'm so thankful to you for the tip on monoi oil, it is lovely. I have the vanilla too! I also recently got coconut oil with lavender oil added in, it is wonderful <3

Thank you for posting your hair care routine. Very interesting and looking forward to viewing your youtube hair style videos. With overnight castor oil treatments, I've gotten my hair to about tailbone length but would like to get it a bit longer and of course thicker. I think I'm going to look into trying that Monoi oil as it looks very nice. Have you ever used castor oil? Wondering how the Monoi oil compares in effectiveness?

Hi! my names Riley,I'm twelve, my hair is blond and just a bit longer than my waist. I just read these hair tips and can't wait to try them!! I have however done the apple cider vinegar trick before. It worked good but the smell of the apple cider vinegar lingered for a few days,(not a big fan of the smell) do you have any tips to get ride of the smell?

Hi Riley, I am so glad you found my blog and I hope these tips help. I actually have never personally noticed a lingering smell, maybe if you tried using more water and diluting it more, that might help <3

Hi im abby thank u for the tips on hair growth im trying to get my hair down to my ankles aswell I would know what to do if my hair is oily and I cant figure out what to do. So if u know what to do could u shair the tips with me.

Hi im abby and I love your hair my mom showed me your hair and I fell in love with it my hair is always oily and I would like to know if you have any tips for me. I love doing hair and nails and I love your hairstyles

Hi Abby, I'm very glad you discovered my blog :) I would say, number one, never put conditioner on the top part of your hair. That will always make your hair oily faster, and it makes your hair come out more easily when you come it. The key is to condition the length, shampoo the top, rinse all that out in cool water and condition the length one more time.I usually wash my hair twice a week, but I wash my bangs every morning. Keeping your hair braided should help, plus that is a good (and pretty!) way to protect your hair throughout the day. Some braids are easier to do when your hair is not super clean, so being oily won't matter as much. And I've found that using a special hair mask about once every six weeks or so really helps keep my hair clean and shiny. I talk about it some on my blog, for my length I mix 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 2 tablespoons olive oil. I put this sticky mixture on my hair, pile my hair in a high bun, cover it with a plastic grocery bag and let it sit for about an hour. Then I wash my hair as usual. My hair stays clean for days on end after doing this. If your hair is waist or above, I would say start by using 1-1-1 and see how that is. I think you will like it :)

Hi this is abby again is your hair super oily a for afew days after you put the coconut oil in it because mine is very oily like five days after I put it in the length of my hair and if you know what to do coud you please tell me what to do?

You're probably using too much, try cutting back to just a few drops or even a teaspoon, rub it in your hands then smooth it through your hair. You might like to check out this blog, my long hair friend from Germany~ she has a lot of great videos and posts. http://haartraumfrisuren.de/

Hi this is abby I was wondering if instead of peanut butter what could I do because I cant have peanut butter I can have almond butter and kashew butter though if I can do one of those that would be great.

About Me

Hi everyone! I'm Andrea and I live in Micronesia, a country made up of tiny islands in the Pacific. I love to travel and am a Disney fan. I have ankle-length strawberry blonde hair, and enjoy fixing my hair in different braids and hairstyles. How fun to share hair pictures here on my blog with my friends from around the world! Thank you for each view, share, like and comment. Have a happy hair day!